Car-coupling



(No Model.)

G. A. POOLEY.

GAR GUUPLING.

No. 491,589. Patented Peb. 14, 1893.

3C @awa/Lto@ Charles faoley UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. POOLEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CAR-couPLlNe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,589, dated February14, 1893.

Application filed February 16,1892. Serial No. 421,721. (No model.)

.T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. POOLEY, of Buii'alo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vertical-Plane Car- Couplers, of which the following isa specication.

This invention relates to that type of vertical-plane car-couplerswherein the coupling jaw is locked in its coupled position by a swinginglock pivoted within the drawhead; and the invention consists in improvedmeans for swinging the lock backwardly to withdraw the same fromengagement with the coupling jaw in the nncoupling operation.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide an incline within thedrawhead on which the swinging lock heretofore employed rides. When thelock is swung back, it rides upwardly on the incline at the same timethat it swings inwardly, and then when it is free to move it rides downthe incline automatically under the influence of gravitation, at thesame time swinging on its pivot. It thus moves downtheinclineautomaticallyin the act of coupling. To be swung backwardlyand upwardly, however, in the act of uncoupling, an extraneous forcemust be applied, and this extraneous force must be so applied that thelock will be given its double movement, that is to say, so that the lockwill both 4be swung on its pivot and at the same time be moved upwardly.In order to thus swing the lock backwardly and upwardly, it has beencustomary to use a chain attached at one of its ends to the lock,passing upwardly through ant aperture or opening in the top of thedrawhead and extending thence above the drawhead to any convenienthandling device at any convenient pointof manipulation. But in the useof such chains practical difiicult-ies occur. In passing through theaperture in the top of the drawhead, the links of the chain are apt tobe caught under the margins of the aperture, and kinks are liable tooccur in the chain within the drawhead, in both of which contingenciesthe lock is operated, if at all, only with dii'liculty. In order also toinsure positively and with certainty the backward swinging as well asupward lifting of the lock, it has been usual when a chain is employedto provide a guiding incline within the drawhead above the lock andparallel with the incline below the lock, so that the lock swingsbetween parallel inclined guides which compel the lock to swing in theproper path. This upper incline above the lock is difticultly made, addsmaterially to the expense of the coupler, and at the same time makes itdifficult to place the lock in position within the drawhead.

In order to overcome the ditliculty arising from the operating chaincatching under the margins of the opening in the top of the drawhead, ithas been proposed to provide an elongated curved slot in the top of thedrawhead through which the chain passes, said slot being concentric withthe axis of the swinging pawl and directly above the path of travel ofthe point of connection between the chain and t-he lock. While thisconstruction avoids the catching of the links of the chain under themargins of the opening in the drawhead, it introduces the addedobjection of presenting a large opening in the drawhead through whichcinders, dust, snow and rain enter the interior of the drawhead. This isa very serious objection, since the snow and rain cause the parts torust, and the rust together with the dust and cinders collecting in theinterior of the drawhead soon preventthe free swinging of the lockandthus render the entire coupler inoperative and useless. With thisconstruction moreover, it is necessary in order to insure the backwardas well as the upward movement of the lock to provide an incline abovethe lock with its attendant disadvantages. It is evident that if noupper incline above the lock were provided a pull upon the chainV in asubstantially or approximately vertical direction (such as is ordinarilyand mostconveniently the case) would tend simply to lift the lock andwould have little or no tendency to swing the lock backwardly on itsaxis. Consequently, in order to resolve this approximately vertical pullinto two forces, one of which shall lift the lock and the other of whichshall swing it backwardly, the upper incline above the lock isnecessary.

rlhe objects of the present invention are to enable an upper inclineabove the lock to be entirely dispensed with, to avoid the use of achain extending through the opening in the top of the drawhead, and toenable the opening in the drawhead through which the oper- IOO atinginstrumentality extends to be reduced to a minimum size so as topractically exclu de dust, cinders, rain and snow from the interior ofthe drawhead. These objects are secured by placing the openi-ng in thedrawhead back of the position of the axis on which the lock swings, andin providing a pin rigid throughout its length, which is connected atone end to the lock at a point (when said lock is in its normal lockingposition) forward of the position of the axis on which the lock swings,and which extends in an upwardly and backwardly inclined directioncorresponding approximately with the direction in which the lock moves,and out through the opening in the drawhead. This pin terminates abovethe drawhead, so that it is accessible above the drawhead, and extendsat all times and in all positions of the lock through the opening in thedrawhead, and consequently its shank portion is the only part which cannever come in contact with the margins of the opening in the drawhead.

The invention also consists in a particular means for taking off thestrain upon the pivot pin or pivots of the swinging lock, while at thesame time permitting absolute freedom from friction in the movement ofthe swinging pawl or lock when moving from a locking to an unlockedposition, or vice versa. The swinging lock is subject to heavy strainonly when it is locked with the coupling jaw, and consequently it isonly when in this position that any such relieving means are necessary.Accordingly, the present inventionvincludes suitably disposed bearing surfaces on the shell or casing of the drawhead, which co-operate with theswinging lock only when the latter is locked with the coupling jaw.

rPhe present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure l, is a horizontal section of a vertical-plane couplershowing the parts in their coupled position; Fig. 2, is a similarsection showing the lock swung back to its most rearward position; Fig.3, is a vertical section showing the parts in their coupled position;Fig. 4, is a vertical section showing the lock swung back to its mostrearward position; Fig. 5, is a vertical section showing a modificationin the vconnection between the lock and the operating pin.; and Fig. 6,is a diagram illustrating the operation of the lock.

A, is the drawhead, B the coupling-jaw, C the lock co-operating withsaid jaw and pivoted within the drawhead so as to swing on a verticalaxis a, and D, a bottom incline within the drawhead beneath the lock, onwhich said lock rides. All these parts 'may be of any of the well-knownconstructions.

E, is the opening in the top of the drawhead, and F, is the operatingpin which is connected with the lock and extends through the Vopening inthe drawhead.

The location of the opening in the top of the drawhead, and of theconnection between the lock and operating pin, is as followsz--The linein Figs. l, and 2, and in the diagram Fig. 6, is drawn parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the coupler and consequently parallel with thedirection of draft. Theline y-y in the same figures is drawnperpendicular to line ca -ca and extends through the axis a, onwhichthelock swings. Theverticalplane passing through this line isconsidered the position of the axis of the lock, and anything forward ofthis line y--y is herein considered forward of the position of the axisof thelock while anything back of this line is herein considered as backof the axis of the lock. Now the location of the opening E, should be(see Fig. 6) at a point b, back of theline y-y, and the location of theconnection between the lock C, and the pin F, (when the lock is in itsforward normal locking position shown in Figs. l, and 3,) should be at apoint c, forward of the line g/--y; and the longitudinal distancebetween said points b, and c, should be equal (or substantially equal)to the extent of the forward and backward travel of the lock.Preferably, and where possible, the longitudinal distance between pointZ9, and line y-y, should be equal to the longitudinal distance betweenline y-U, and point c, for reasons which will hereinafter appear. Thispreferred construction and arrangement is that shown in the drawings.

The operating pin F, is connected to the lock at the upper face thereof.The means of connection between the operating pin and lock is preferablyany of the well-known methods of connection (some of which are shown inthe drawings) such as will insure a rigid connection between the pin andlock, so that the pin becomes a rigid one. The pin may, however, have apivotal connection with the lock, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the pinhas an eye at its lower end for connection with an eye bolt d, securedto the lock. In any case, however, the pin itself, between its two ends,is a rigid one incapable of bending under the strains (which are notheavy) to which it is subjected. From its point of connection with thelock the pin inclines backwardly, and upwardly, in order that it mayextend outward through the opening E, in the top of the drawhead. Theupper end of the pin is at all times above the drawhead, andconsequently accessible thereabove. At its upper end it is connectedwith an operating chain G, which leads to any convenient handling deviceor place of manipulation. Usually the point from which the chain ispulled is above the coupler, so that thechain is pulled in anapproximately vertical direction, as is indicated in Figs. 3, and 4.

The general direction in which the shank of the pin extends Vissubstantially parallel with the direction in which the lock moves. Itneed not, however, be exactly parallel therewith, but may be, andpreferably is, slightly curved throughout its length as shown, the shankof the pin curving slightly upward from a line parallel with the path ofthe lock,

IOO

This insures the easy movement of the lock. If the general inclinationof the pin were at an upward angle considerably less or greater thanthat of the path of the lock, the pin would bind against the margins ofthe opening E, when the lock swings back under the action of thecoupling-jaw in the act of coupling.

The operation of the pin is as followsz Vhen the lock is swung backwardunder the action of the coupling jaw or slides down the incline underthe inuence of gravity, the pin F, plays freely up and down in theopening E, the position of the opening and the shape of the pinpermitting it. lVhen, however, the lock is swung upwardly and backwardlyin the act of uncoupling, the chain G, is pulled from above. If thedirection in which the chain is pulled is approximately in line orparallel with the path in which the lock rides on the incline D, thelock will move upwardly along the incline and the operating pin will inconsequence freely move in the opening E. Should, however, the line ofpull on the chain be nearly or quite vertical, the iirst effect of apull on the chain would be to lift the lock vertically until the upperface of the shank of the pin comes in contact with the front lowermargin c, of the opening E, so that as the pull on the chain iscontinued the pin is drawn backwardly along and in contact with themargin e of the opening E. In this manner the backward movement of thelock as well as its upward movement is secured, no matter in whatdirection the chain may be pulled. Since the point of manipulation atwhich the chain is pulled is above the opening E, the upper end of thepin exterior' to the drawhead is bent so as to occupy a substantiallyvertical position. The bend f, at this point of the shank of the pin isadjacent to the margin c, of the opening E, so that the sliding movementof the pin along the margin of the opening (in the cases where itoccurs) is gradually initiated and is performed with the least possiblefriction. This bend also permits the pin to extend above the top of thedrawhead without coming in contact with the rear margin of the opening,and thus precludes the necessity of specially shaping the opening forthe passage of the pin. The only movable part of the coupler which isthus ever brought in-to contact with, or extends through, the opening E,is the rigid shank of the pin. In the construction shown in Fig. 5, thelimit of movement of the lock is reached before the eye bolt d, canreach the opening E.

Since the backward movement of the lock (when it is not effected solelyby the line of pull on the chain) is effected by the shape of the pinand its co-operation with the margin of the opening, all inclines abovethe lock and their attendant disadvantages are dispensed with. The onlypart of the operating device which extends at any time or positionthrough the opening E, is the rigid shank of the pin.

Consequently there is nothing to catch beneath the margins of theopening, and no possibility of any kinks or twists in the operatingdevice within the drawhead. The pin F, may be considered as being but anelongated link of the chain G, which is connected above thedrawhead withthe short links of the chain and within the drawhead to the lock.

Since the pin always occupies a position wit-hin the opening E, itconsequently partly fills the same, and the only opportunity for theentrance of dust, cinders and the like into the drawhead is through thespace around the pin and within the periphery of the opening. This spaceis reduced to a minimum size by reason of the relative location of theopening and of the connection between the pin and lock to the positionof the axis of the lock.

Since the longitudinal distance between the points b, and c (see Fig. 6)is equal (or substantially so) to the extent of the forward and backwardtravel of the lock, it follows that when the lock is swung back thepoint of connection between the lock and pin will move from point c topoint b. In doing this it travels through the arc c g b indicated in thedrawings having the axis a, as its center. In passing through this arcit will be noted that the connection between the-pin and lock reachesits greatest distance from the longitudinal line .frat the point g,where the arc c g b intersects the line 'y y, this distance being thedistance between the points g, and 7L. The extent of variation from thelongitudinal line m-ca which is measured by the distance between thepoints g and 71 determines the size of the opening E, in order to enableit to accommodate the movement of the pin F. The greatest lateraldiameter of opening E, needonly be equal to the thickness of the pinplus the extent of variation of movement of the pin from a line parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the coupler passing through the point ofconnection between the pin and lock when the latter is in its normalposition. It will therefore be evidentthat this extent of variation willbe the least when the illustrated conditions exist, andit will becomeconstantly larger as the point of connection between the pin and lock ismoved backward. This extent of variation 7 is in practice quite small,so that the opening E, is but slightly larger across than the diameterof the pin, and consequently the space which is left between the pin andthe margins of the opening is so small as to practically exclude dust,cinders, and the like. lt will further be noted that in case the pin isjointed to the lock as in Fig. 5, the lateral space between the pin andmargins of the opening can be still further reduced, since the pin canbe swung laterally to a slight extent without interfering with thedirection of pull upon the chain from a xed point above. Thelongitudinal extent of the opening E, need be only a trilie larger thanthe diameter of the pin so as to permit its free and easy movement. Itwill thus be evi- IOO IIC

dent that the opening in the top of the drawhead is reduced to thesmallest possible extent consistent with the operating chain beingmanipulated by a direct pull from a fixed point above the coupler.

The shell of the drawhead is provided with an inwardly-projectin gflange, rib or bearing surface H, with which the tail end of theswinging pawl or lock C, is in contact only when it is in its lockingposition engaging with the coupling jaw. lVhen in this position, thestrain of the coupling jaw is irnparted through the lock or pawl @,Ytothe rib H, which thus withstands the strain and prevents the strainbeing borne by the pivots or pivot pin of the pawl or lock. It. is onlynecessary that the pawl or lock should be in contact with thestrain-sustaining rib Il, at the time when the lock or pawl is engagedby the coupling jaw, and consequently it is desirable -that thestrain-sustaining part of the drawhead should be an inwardly-projectingrib, Aflange or bearing surface, since such a rib does not interferewith the free swinging of the pawl or'lock, and the formation of rust orthe presence .of dust or cinders on the adjoining faces of the drawheadand lock or pawl does not affect the free swinging of the pawl or lock.

' In former constructions of couplers where the tail end of the swingingpawl or lock has been curved and has fitted in acurved socket in thedrawhead constituting a bearing surface for the pawl or lock, the freeswinging of the pawl or lock has been seriously impeded by the" frictionbetween the pawl and the socket, and by the formation of rust and thepresence of vdust or cinders between them. These objections are overcomeby the present invention, which provides a clear space between theA tailend of the pawl or lock and the adjacent surface of the drawhead, whileat the same time a strain-sustaining rib, ange or bearing surface isprovided which cornes into .efficient action when needed.

I claim as my invention l. In a vertical-plane coupler, a drawhead, acoupling jaw, and a swinging lock pivoted within said drawhead andco-operating with said jaw, said drawhead having an opening in its top,back of the position of the axis of the lock, in combination with a pinconnected with `said lock lat a point forward of a position of the axisof the lock when the lock is in its -norrnal coupling position, said pinextending from said point of connection through said opening in the topof the drawhead, substantially as set forth. Y Y Y Y Y 2. In avertical-plane coupler, a dravrliead, -a coupling jaw, and a swinginglock pivoted wit-hin said drawhead and co-operating with said jaw, saiddrawhead having an opening in its top, back of a transverse lineintersecting the axis of said lock and perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the coupler, in comlock and pin and the opening in the .top ofthe drawhead being substantially equal to the longitudinal travel of thelock, said pin eX- tending from said point of connection through saidopening in the top of the drawhead, substantiallyias set forth. Y YY 3.In a vertical-plane coupler having a drawhead and coupling jaw, aswinging lock cooperating with said jaw, said lock having a rigidoperating pin connected therewith,said pin extending at ali timesthrough an aperture or opening in the top of said draw-head, wherebysaid pin is always accessible from the exterior' of said drawhead,substantially as set forth.

4t. In a vertical-plane couplerhavinga drawhead and coupling jaw, aswinging lock cooperating with said jaw, said lock having a rigid curvedoperating pin connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

5. In a vertical-plane coupler, a drawhead having an incline, and acoupling jaw, in combination with a lock riding on said incline andcooperating with said jaw, saidlock having a rigid pin connectedtherewith, said pin extending in a direction substantially parallel withsaid incline and lextending at all Y times upwardl yV andYoutviardlythrou gh an ap,-Y

erture in the top of said drawhead, substantially as set forth.

6. In a vertical plane coupler having a drawhead and a coupling jaw, aswinging lock cooperating with said pin, said lock having an inclinedoperating pin connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

7. In a vertical plane coupler, having a dra-whead and a coupling jaw, aswinging lock cooperating with said pin, said lock having an inclinedoperatingpin rigidly connected therewith, substantially as set forth.'

8. In a Vertical plane car coupler, the drawhcad having aninwardly-projecting strainsustaining rib, (lange or bearing surface H,and thel coupling jaw, in combination with the swinging lock or pawlwhich engages said coupling jaw, and which when itis in position to beso engaged bears against said rib, flange or bearing surface (and at noother of its positions) and transmits the strain of said IIO jaw to saidrib, iiange or bearing surface, subr-VVV stantialiy as set'forth Inwitness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. POOLEY. Witnesses:

DONALD BAIN, Jr.,

ALBERT H. JACKSON.

